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Paul Rebukes Peter at Antioch

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And with him the rest of the Jews acted insincerely, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their insincerity. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?” 15 We ourselves, who are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners, 16 yet who know that a man is not justified[a] by works of the law[b] but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. 17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! 18 But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification[c] were through the law, then Christ died to no purpose.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 2:16 Or reckoned righteous; and so elsewhere
  2. 2.16 works of the law: Paul is contrasting not faith with good works but faith in Jesus Christ with observance of the law of Moses.
  3. Galatians 2:21 Or righteousness

No Return to the Law

11 (A)Now when [a]Peter had come to Antioch, I [b]withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, (B)he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing [c]those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about (C)the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter (D)before them all, (E)“If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, [d]why do you compel Gentiles to live as [e]Jews? 15 (F)We who are Jews by nature, and not (G)sinners of the Gentiles, 16 (H)knowing that a man is not [f]justified by the works of the law but (I)by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not (J)by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

17 “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found (K)sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I (L)through the law (M)died to the law that I might (N)live to God. 20 I have been (O)crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh (P)I live by faith in the Son of God, (Q)who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for (R)if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died [g]in vain.”

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 2:11 NU Cephas
  2. Galatians 2:11 opposed
  3. Galatians 2:12 Jewish Christians
  4. Galatians 2:14 NU how can you
  5. Galatians 2:14 Some interpreters stop the quotation here.
  6. Galatians 2:16 declared righteous
  7. Galatians 2:21 for nothing